Schedule The Patriots'
2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in
bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins In rookie quarterback
Mac Jones' first NFL start, a back-and-forth affair against divisional opponent Miami was sealed when Patriots running back
Damien Harris fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter, allowing the Dolphins to run out the clock. With the close loss, the Patriots began the season 0–1 for the first time since
2017.
Week 2: at New York Jets A battle of rookie quarterbacks saw
Zach Wilson of the Jets throw four interceptions to the Patriots defense, allowing New England to coast to a 25–6 win, its 11th straight win over divisional rival New York. Mac Jones completed over 70% of his passes for the second game in a row.
Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints Jones threw three interceptions, including a pass bobbled by tight end
Jonnu Smith before being returned by
P. J. Williams for a touchdown, as the Patriots lost to the Saints 28–13 and dropped to 1–2. This was also the Patriots' first loss to the Saints since
2009.
Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers This game marked former Patriots quarterback
Tom Brady's first return to Gillette Stadium since leaving the Patriots after the
2019 season, as he was cheered by the Patriots' home crowd during pre-game introductions before being jeered during the game. During the rain-soaked, back-and-forth contest, Brady was held without a touchdown and completed just over half of his passes; he was held to his third lowest passer rating – 70.8 – since joining the Buccaneers but led them to a go-ahead field goal just after the two-minute warning. Jones, who passed for 2 touchdowns and an interception, led the Patriots into position for their own field goal, but
Nick Folk's 56-yard attempt hit the left upright, sealing the loss for the Patriots to their former franchise quarterback. With their first loss to Tampa Bay since
2000, the Patriots fell to 1-3.
Week 5: at Houston Texans Despite being down 22–9 to Houston at one point, the Patriots came back to win – coincidentally in the same stadium where they overcame a 28–3 deficit to the
Atlanta Falcons to win
Super Bowl LI. Aside from a missed extra point in the first half, Nick Folk made four field goals during the game, including the game-winner with 15 seconds left in the game. With the win, New England improved to 2–3, taking sole possession of 2nd place in the AFC East. This marked the Patriots last win over the Texans until
2025.
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys This was the Patriots' first overtime game since the 2018 AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was the Pats' first loss to the Cowboys in 25 years and their first home loss to them in 34 years.
Week 7: vs. New York Jets With the win, the Patriots improved to 3–4 and swept the Jets for the sixth consecutive season and improved the winning streak against the Jets to 12.
Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers With their 7th win against the Chargers, the Patriots improved to 4–4 on the season. However, this would be the Patriots last win against the Chargers until 2025.
Week 9: at Carolina Panthers The Patriots intercepted
Panthers quarterback
Sam Darnold three times en route to victory, including an 88-yard pick-six by
J.C. Jackson. New England improved to 5–4 on the year and 4–0 all-time vs. Darnold. This was also the Patriots first win over the Panthers since
2009.
Week 10: vs. Cleveland Browns The Patriots outplayed the
Browns on both sides of the ball.
Mac Jones had one of his better games as a rookie, completing over 80 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Patriots converted 7 of 9 third downs. The defense only allowed points on the first drive of the game, held the Browns to 1 of 11 on third down, and knocked Browns quarterback
Baker Mayfield out of the game in the third quarter. With
Damien Harris sidelined with a concussion from the Panthers game,
Rhamondre Stevenson served as the primary running back, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns. With their 4th win over the Browns since
2013, in addition to their 6th home win against Cleveland since
1995, the Patriots improved to 6-4.
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons The Patriots defense intercepted all three quarterbacks on the Falcons—
Matt Ryan,
Josh Rosen, and
Feleipe Franks—as New England coasted to their 8th win over Atlanta since
2001 on
Thursday Night Football, improving to 7–4 (2-3 against the NFC). They would gain the
AFC East division lead later in the week after the
Buffalo Bills lost to the
Indianapolis Colts.
Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans The Patriots defense put up a show against a banged up
Titans team. The offense was only forced to punt once but struggled to finish drives and get the run game going, resulting in five Nick Folk field goals. Mac Jones threw for 310 yards, and completed a pair of touchdown passes to Kendrick Bourne, with Damien Harris adding a touchdown late in the fourth quarter on the ground. Cornerback J. C. Jackson secured his seventh interception of the season, while the rest of the defense forced five fumbles, three of which were recovered by the Patriots. The Patriots improved to 8–4 for the AFC East division lead and an overall second place in the AFC.
Week 13: at Buffalo Bills The Patriots entered the game in first place in the AFC following the
Baltimore Ravens' loss the previous day, and were playing for first place in the AFC East. The game was impacted by winds; Belichick noted after the game that the winds in the Patriots'
Week 17 game in Buffalo in 2008 were "way worse". The Patriots drew up a run-heavy game plan in which Jones attempted just three passes, completing two for 19 yards (in 2008, Cassel completed six of eight passes for 78 yards). The Patriots ran the ball 46 times, for over 220 yards, utilizing a sixth offensive lineman on the majority of their offensive snaps. The Patriots defense was also stout: the Bills' only touchdown came after a
N'Keal Harry muffed punt, and Myles Bryant broke up a fourth-down pass in the red zone late in the fourth quarter to preserve the Patriots' 14–10 win. The Patriots had their bye week after this game, making it their latest regular-season bye since their Week 16 bye in 2001. This would mark the Patriots last win in Buffalo until
2025.
Week 15: at Indianapolis Colts The Patriots were flat for much of the game, being shut out in the first half for the first time in 99 games. A late second half comeback brought the Patriots to within three points, but fell short when Jonathan Taylor put the game away with a 67-yard touchdown run. With the loss, the Patriots fell to the #3 seed in the AFC prior to Week 15's Sunday games, while still maintaining first place in the AFC East. It was also the first time the Patriots lost to the Colts since Week 10 of the
2009 season. The Patriots gave up 226 rush yards in the loss.
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills This was the first time in five years the Pats and the Bills split the season series. Because of this loss (their second straight after a bye week), the Pats fell to the #6 seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Bills did not have a single punt in this game.
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars With the blowout win, alongside Tennessee's win over Miami, the Patriots clinched their 12th playoff berth in 13 years after a 1 year absence. This marked the last time the Patriots clinched a playoff berth until
2025. New England finished 3-1 against the AFC South & 4-5 at home.
Week 18: at Miami Dolphins With the loss, the Patriots not only failed to defeat Miami for the first time since 2000, but also Buffalo's win over the Jets meant the Patriots would lose the AFC East to the Bills for second year in a row. Instead, the Pats would clinch the #6 seed following a Raiders win. New England finished the regular season 3-3 against the AFC East & 6-2 on the road.
Standings Division Conference ==Postseason==